European ports are under fire for slow investments in shore power infrastructure, with most expected to miss the EU’s 2030 deadline for providing onshore electricity, according to environmental NGO Transport & Environment (T&E).
The NGO reports that only 20% of required shore power connections are currently installed or contracted, signaling sluggish progress across most ports. Among Europe’s 31 largest ports, just four have met over half of their 2030 connection targets. As a result, most container ships, cruise liners, and ferries continue relying on fossil fuels while docked.
The EU’s Green Deal mandates that ports supply shore power by 2030 for container, cruise, and passenger ships exceeding 5,000 gross tonnage. Bulk carriers and tankers are currently exempt.
Shore power is vital for reducing CO₂ and other pollutants. T&E’s analysis reveals that ships at berth emitted 8.3 million tonnes of CO₂ in European ports in 2023—6.4% of the region’s total shipping emissions. Cruise ships are the worst offenders, idling longer and producing six times more portside emissions than container vessels.
The study notes that Spain’s Algeciras and Germany’s Hamburg host over half (19 of 34) of Europe’s installed container ship shore power connections. Italy’s Livorno, Poland’s Świnoujście, and Malta’s Valletta also lead in investments, having installed or contracted over 50% of required infrastructure.
The poorest performers—Antwerp, Dublin, Gdańsk, and Lisbon—have yet to invest in any shore power infrastructure.
“Ports are failing residents and passengers by tolerating avoidable pollution from idling ships. Shore power technology exists and could immediately curb shipping’s air and climate impacts. For port-heavy sectors like cruising, plugging in would be transformative,” said Inesa Ulichina, T&E’s shipping policy officer.
The NGO urges the EU to accelerate cruise ship shore power requirements to 2028, incentivize ports with clean energy credits, increase electrification funding, and expand rules to cover all vessels.
